ZA020
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 1998 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year[s] of estimate) Size IBA criteria
Burchell's Sandgrouse Pterocles burchelli LC resident (1998) present A3
Barred Wren-warbler Calamonastes fasciolatus LC resident (1998) present A3
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis LC resident (1998) present A3
Kalahari Scrub-robin Cercotrichas paena LC resident (1998) present A3
Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius LC resident (1998) present A3

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 1998. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2014 good high high
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes habitat medium

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Desert good (>90%) good (>90%) good
Forest good (>90%) good (>90%) good
Savanna good (>90%) good (>90%) good
Wetlands (inland) good (>90%) good (>90%) good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Climate change and severe weather happe­ning now most of popul­ation/area (50–90%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Biological resource use happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Human intrusions and disturbance happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Transportation and service corridors happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) low
Energy production and mining happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Pollution happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low
Residential and commercial development happe­ning now few indivi­duals/small area (<10%) no or slight decline (<1% over 3 gener­ations) low

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Whole area (>90%) covered by appropriate conservation designation A compre­hensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species The conservation measures needed for the site are being compre­hensively and effectively implemented high

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Desert major (>10) Gravel and sand plains
Forest major (>10) Woodland - riparian
Grassland major (>10) Grassland - edaphic, dry
Savanna major (>10) Bushland & thicket - deciduous
Wetlands (inland) minor (<10) Rivers & streams; Ephemeral pools and wetlands

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry 10
nature conservation and research 3
water management 1
agriculture -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kalahari-gemsbok-national-park-iba-south-africa on 12/12/2024.